Engineering Mathematics 2: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 16 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Differential equations

Exponential growth/decay
dy/dt = ky → y = y0ekt
Half-life
k = ln 2 / t½
Newton's law of cooling
T(t) = Ta + (T0 − Ta)e−kt
Integrating factor
y′ + p(x)y = q(x): μ = e∫p dx, (μy)′ = μq
Mixing tank
dm/dt = r·c − (r/V)·m

Matrices & determinants

2×2 determinant
det = ad − bc
2×2 inverse
A⁻¹ = (1/det)·[d −b; −c a]
Product
(AB)ij = Σk AikBkj
Eigenvalues
det(A − λI) = 0
Cramer’s rule
xi = det(Ai)/det(A)

Vectors: dot & cross product

Magnitude
|a| = √(ax² + ay² + az²)
Unit vector
û = a/|a|
Components from an angle
Fx = F·cos θ, Fy = F·sin θ
Dot product
a·b = axbx + ayby + azbz = |a||b|cos θ
Scalar projection of a onto b
a·b/|b|
Work
W = F·d
Cross product
a × b = (aybz − azby, azbx − axbz, axby − aybx)
Areas
parallelogram |a × b|, triangle ½|a × b|
Moment about O
MO = r × F, r = A − O
Volume of a parallelepiped
V = |a·(b × c)|

Method

  1. Write every vector in components; for a force given by a magnitude and an angle, use F·cos θ and F·sin θ.
  2. For lengths and directions use the magnitude √(x² + y² + z²) and the unit vector a/|a|.
  3. Use the dot product for angles, projections, perpendicularity and work: a·b = |a||b|cos θ.
  4. Use the cross product for perpendicular vectors, areas and moments: write the three components carefully, keeping the order a × b.

Integrals

Power rule
∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1) + C
Definite integral
∫ab f dx = F(b) − F(a)
Common integrals
∫eˣ dx = eˣ, ∫1/x dx = ln|x|, ∫sin x dx = −cos x
Area between curves
∫ab (f − g) dx

Method

  1. Rewrite the integrand as a sum of simple terms where possible.
  2. Apply the power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1), and standard integrals for ex, 1/x, sin and cos.
  3. Use substitution when you see a function and its derivative together.
  4. For a definite integral, evaluate F(b) − F(a).

Multivariable calculus

Partial derivatives
fx = ∂f/∂x (y constant), fxy = fyx
Gradient
∇f = (fx, fy), largest slope |∇f|
Directional derivative
Duf = ∇f·u, u = v/|v|
Tangent plane
z = f(a, b) + fx(x − a) + fy(y − b)
Chain rule
dz/dt = fx·dx/dt + fy·dy/dt
Second-derivative test
D = fxxfyy − fxy²: D > 0, fxx > 0 minimum; D > 0, fxx < 0 maximum; D < 0 saddle
Double integral
∬R f dA = ∫ab∫g(x)h(x) f dy dx
Polar coordinates
x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ, dA = r dr dθ

Method

  1. For a partial derivative, treat the other variable as a constant and use the one-variable rules.
  2. For gradient questions compute ∇f = (fx, fy) at the point; use |∇f| for the steepest slope and ∇f·u with a unit vector u for a directional derivative.
  3. For extrema solve fx = 0 and fy = 0 together, then classify every point with D = fxx·fyy − fxy².
  4. For a double integral sketch the region, choose the order (or polar coordinates for discs) so the inner limits are the bounding curves, and integrate inside first.

Sequences & series

Arithmetic sequence
aₙ = a₁ + (n − 1)d, Sₙ = n(a₁ + aₙ)/2
Geometric sequence
aₙ = a₁rⁿ⁻¹, Sₙ = a₁(1 − rⁿ)/(1 − r)
Infinite geometric series
S = a₁/(1 − r), |r| < 1
p-series
Σ1/kᵖ converges only for p > 1
Ratio test
L = lim |ak+1/ak|: L < 1 converges, L > 1 diverges
Radius of convergence
R = lim |ck/ck+1|
Taylor polynomial
Pₙ(x) = Σ f⁽ᵏ⁾(a)(x − a)ᵏ/k!
Maclaurin series
eˣ = Σxᵏ/k!, sin x = x − x³/3! + …, cos x = 1 − x²/2! + …, ln(1 + x) = x − x²/2 + …
Lagrange error bound
|Rₙ| ≤ M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!

Method

  1. Identify the type: arithmetic (constant difference), geometric (constant ratio), a standard series, a power series or a Taylor polynomial.
  2. For sums use Sₙ = n(a₁ + aₙ)/2, Sₙ = a₁(1 − rⁿ)/(1 − r), or S = a₁/(1 − r) when |r| < 1, with a₁ the first term of the sum.
  3. For convergence: n-th term test first, then compare with Σ1/kᵖ or a geometric series, and use the ratio or root test for factorials and k-th powers.
  4. For Taylor polynomials list f(a), f′(a), f″(a), …, divide the k-th derivative by k!, and bound the error with M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!.

Convolution & LTI systems

Discrete convolution
y[n] = Σ x[k]·h[n − k]
Continuous convolution
y(t) = ∫ x(τ)·h(t − τ) dτ
Length and sum
Ly = Lx + Lh − 1, Σy = Σx·Σh
Start, end and area
t1 + t3 … t2 + t4, ∫y = ∫x·∫h
Step into e^(−at)u(t)
y(t) = (A/a)(1 − e−at)
First-order system
y′ + a·y = b·x → h(t) = b·e−atu(t)
First-order recursion
y[n] = a·y[n − 1] + b·x[n] → h[n] = b·aⁿ
Sinusoid through h(t)
|H(jω)|, ∠H(jω); H(jω) = b/(a + jω)
Fourier series amplitudes
square ±A: 4A/(kπ), odd k; triangle ±A: 8A/(π²k²), odd k; pulse train: A·D and (2A/(kπ))|sin kπD|

Method

  1. Sketch both signals and note where each one is nonzero.
  2. Flip h and slide it: for each output time, find the range where both signals overlap.
  3. Multiply and add (discrete) or multiply and integrate (continuous) over that overlap only.
  4. Check the result: the output starts at the sum of the start times, ends at the sum of the end times, and its area or sum is the product of the input areas or sums.

2Practice problems

1.Differential equationsMedium
t (min)T (°C)14Ta​15 °C9 °C

A can of soda at 3 °C is taken out of the fridge into a room at 27 °C. After 14 min its temperature is 15 °C. It follows Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ). How long after the start, t, does it take to reach 9 °C?

T0 = 3 °CTa = 27 °CT(14) = 15 °CT = 9 °C
t = min
2.Differential equationsHard
xy13(1, 3)y(3) = ?

Solve the initial value problem y′ + 2y/x = 2 for x > 0, with y(1) = 3. Find y(3).

y′ + 2y/x = 2y(1) = 3
y(3) =
3.Matrices & determinantsMedium
A =−255−45−5−12−2

Find the determinant det A of the 3×3 matrix A shown.

A = [−2 5 5; −4 5 −5; −1 2 −2]
det A =
4.Matrices & determinantsHard
A =0−1−65

Find the larger eigenvalue λ of the matrix A shown.

A = [0 −1; −6 5]
λ =
5.Vectors: dot & cross productMedium
xyzdFAB

A constant force F = (20, −10, 10) N acts on an object while it moves in a straight line from point A(−4, 5, −1) to point B(3, 3, 4). Coordinates are in metres. Find the work W done by the force.

F = (20, −10, 10) NA(−4, 5, −1) mB(3, 3, 4) m
W = J
6.Vectors: dot & cross productHard
xyzABC

Find the area A of the triangle with corners A(−2, −3, 1), B(−4, 2, −3) and C(−1, −3, 4). Coordinates are in metres.

A(−2, −3, 1)B(−4, 2, −3)C(−1, −3, 4)
A = m²
7.IntegralsMedium
xy210

Evaluate I = ∫210 2/x dx.

f(x) = 2/x[2, 10]
I =
8.IntegralsHard
xyy = 0.5x2​y = x

Find the area A of the region enclosed by y = 0.5x2 and y = x.

y = 0.5x2y = x
A =
9.Multivariable calculusMedium
xy13∇fP

For f(x, y) = −3x³y² + 3x³ + y² − xy, find the direction of steepest ascent at (1, 3) as the angle θ from the positive x-axis, in degrees between −180° and 180°.

f(x, y) = −3x³y² + 3x³ + y² − xyP = (1, 3)
θ = °
10.Multivariable calculusHard
xy−202−202ABC

The marked points are the critical points of f(x, y) = x⁴ + y⁴ − 4xy. Click the saddle point.

f(x, y) = x⁴ + y⁴ − 4xy
  1. 1A (0, 0)
  2. 2B (−1, −1)
  3. 3C (1, 1)
11.Sequences & seriesMedium
kSn​12345678910S = ?

Find the sum S = Σk=1∞ 3/(k(k + 1)).

ak = 3/(k(k + 1))
S =
12.Sequences & seriesHard

Recognise the series and find its sum: S = Σk=0∞ 2ᵏ/k!.

ak = 2ᵏ/k!
S =
13.Laplace transformsMedium
t (s)f(t)t = 0.5f(0.5) = ?

Find f(t) for F(s) = 15/(s(s + 2)(s + 3)) by partial fractions, and evaluate f(0.5).

F(s) = 15/(s(s + 2)(s + 3))t = 0.5 s
f(0.5) =
14.Laplace transformsHard
t (s)y(t)t = 0.3y(0.3) = ?

A system obeys y″ + 8y′ + 15y = 37.5·u(t). It starts at rest (y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0) and the input is a step u(t) = 2 for t ≥ 0. Use the Laplace transform to find the output y(0.3).

y″ + 8y′ + 15y = 37.5·u(t)u(t) = 2y(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0t = 0.3 s
y(0.3) =
15.Convolution & LTI systemsMedium
x(t)t33h(t)t43

The pulse x(t) = 3 for 0 ≤ t < 3 s (zero elsewhere) is applied to a system with the impulse response h(t) = 3 for 0 ≤ t < 4 s (zero elsewhere). Find the output y(3) at t = 3 s.

x(t) = 3, 0 ≤ t < 3 sh(t) = 3, 0 ≤ t < 4 st = 3 s
y(3) =
16.Convolution & LTI systemsHard
x(t)t (ms)1.2484

A pulse train has height 4, pulse width 1.2 ms and period 4 ms. Find the amplitude c3 of harmonic number 3, at 750 Hz.

A = 4τ = 1.2 msT = 4 ms
c3 =

3Solutions

1.Differential equations

Answer: t = 5.811 min

First-order differential equations: dy/dt = k·y has the solution y = y₀·ekt (growth for k > 0, decay for k < 0); a half-life T gives k = ln 2/T. Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ), gives T(t) = Tₐ + (T₀ − Tₐ)·e−kt. A linear equation y′ + p(x)·y = q(x) is solved with the integrating factor μ = e∫p dx: (μy)′ = μq, so μy = ∫μq dx + C.

Cooling constant

k = ln(-24/-12)/14 = 0.04951 min⁻¹

Time to reach the target

t = ln(-24/(−18))/0.04951 = 5.811 min

Answer

t = 5.811 min
2.Differential equations

Answer: y(3) = 2.259

First-order differential equations: dy/dt = k·y has the solution y = y₀·ekt (growth for k > 0, decay for k < 0); a half-life T gives k = ln 2/T. Newton's law of cooling, dT/dt = −k·(T − Tₐ), gives T(t) = Tₐ + (T₀ − Tₐ)·e−kt. A linear equation y′ + p(x)·y = q(x) is solved with the integrating factor μ = e∫p dx: (μy)′ = μq, so μy = ∫μq dx + C.

Integrating factor

μ = e∫2/x dx = x2

Integrate

(x2y)′ = 2x2 → x2y = 2x3/3 + C

Initial condition

3 = 2/3 + C → C = 2.333

Evaluate

y(3) = (2·33/3 + 2.333)/32 = 2.259

Answer

y(3) = 2.259
3.Matrices & determinants

Answer: det A = −30

Matrices: the determinant of a 2×2 matrix is ad − bc. For 3×3, expand along a row: each entry times the determinant of the 2×2 matrix left after removing its row and column, with alternating signs + − +. Eigenvalues λ solve det(A − λI) = 0; for 2×2 that is λ² − (trace)·λ + det = 0.

2×2 minors of the first row

M₁₁ = 0, M₁₂ = 3, M₁₃ = −3

Cofactor expansion

det A = (−2)·0 − 5·3 + 5·(−3) = −30

Answer

det A = −30
4.Matrices & determinants

Answer: λ = 6

Matrices: the determinant of a 2×2 matrix is ad − bc. For 3×3, expand along a row: each entry times the determinant of the 2×2 matrix left after removing its row and column, with alternating signs + − +. Eigenvalues λ solve det(A − λI) = 0; for 2×2 that is λ² − (trace)·λ + det = 0.

Characteristic equation

λ² − (5)λ + (−6) = 0

Solve

λ = (5 ± √(49))/2 → λ = −1, 6
λ = 6

Answer

λ = 6
5.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: W = 210 J

Dot product: a·b = axbx + ayby + azbz = |a|·|b|·cos θ, a scalar. It gives the angle between two vectors, cos θ = a·b/(|a|·|b|), and it is zero when they are perpendicular. The scalar projection of a onto b is a·b/|b|, and a constant force F moving through a displacement d does work W = F·d.

Displacement

d = B − A = (3, 3, 4) − (−4, 5, −1) = (7, −2, 5) m

Work

W = F·d = 20·7 + (−10)·(−2) + 10·5 = 210 J

Answer

W = 210 J
6.Vectors: dot & cross product

Answer: A = 7.969 m²

Cross product: a × b = (aybz − azby, azbx − axbz, axby − aybx) is perpendicular to both vectors, and |a × b| = |a|·|b|·sin θ is the area of the parallelogram they span (the triangle has half of it). Order matters: b × a = −(a × b). The moment of a force F applied at point A about point O is MO = r × F, with r = A − O.

Edge vectors

AB = B − A = (−2, 5, −4)
AC = C − A = (1, 0, 3)

Cross product

(AB × AC)x = AByACz − ABzACy = 5·3 − (−4)·0 = 15
(AB × AC)y = ABzACx − ABxACz = (−4)·1 − (−2)·3 = 2
(AB × AC)z = ABxACy − AByACx = (−2)·0 − 5·1 = −5
|AB × AC| = √(15² + 2² + (−5)²) = 15.94

Area of the triangle

A = ½·15.94 = 7.969 m²

Answer

A = 7.969 m²
7.Integrals

Answer: I = 3.219

Definite integrals: ∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx is the signed area between the graph and the x-axis from a to b. Find an antiderivative F (with F′ = f) and evaluate F(b) − F(a). Power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1). The area between two curves is ∫(upper − lower) dx.

Antiderivative

F(x) = 2·ln x

Evaluate at the limits

I = 2·(ln 10 − ln 2) = 2·ln 5 = 3.219

Answer

I = 3.219
8.Integrals

Answer: A = 0.6667

Definite integrals: ∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx is the signed area between the graph and the x-axis from a to b. Find an antiderivative F (with F′ = f) and evaluate F(b) − F(a). Power rule: ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1). The area between two curves is ∫(upper − lower) dx.

Intersection points

0.5x2 = x → x = 0, x = 2

Integrate upper minus lower

A = [0.5x2 − 0.1667x3]02 = 0.6667

Answer

A = 0.6667
9.Multivariable calculus

Answer: θ = −170.2 °

Gradient: ∇f = (fx, fy) points in the direction of steepest ascent, and |∇f| is the largest rate of change. The directional derivative along a direction v is Duf = ∇f·u with the unit vector u = v/|v|. The tangent plane at (a, b) is z = f(a, b) + fx(a, b)(x − a) + fy(a, b)(y − b); it gives the linear approximation of f near that point. Chain rule: dz/dt = fx·dx/dt + fy·dy/dt.

Partial derivatives

fx = −9x²y² + 9x² − y → fx(1, 3) = −75
fy = −6x³y + 2y − x → fy(1, 3) = −13

Direction

θ = atan2(−13, −75) = −170.2°

Answer

θ = −170.2°
10.Multivariable calculus

Answer: A (0, 0)

Critical points and double integrals: a critical point has fx = fy = 0. Second-derivative test with D = fxxfyy − fxy²: D > 0 and fxx > 0 is a local minimum, D > 0 and fxx < 0 a local maximum, D < 0 a saddle point, and D = 0 decides nothing. For a double integral over a general region, let the inner limits be the curves that bound the region; for discs and sectors use polar coordinates, x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ and dA = r dr dθ (do not forget the factor r).

Critical points

Solve fx = 0 and fy = 0 together.

fx = 4x³ − 4y = 0
fy = 4y³ − 4x = 0
(0, 0), (1, 1), (−1, −1)

Second-derivative test

(0, 0): fxx = 0, fyy = 0, fxy = −4, D = −16 → saddle point
(1, 1): fxx = 12, fyy = 12, fxy = −4, D = 128 → local minimum
(−1, −1): fxx = 12, fyy = 12, fxy = −4, D = 128 → local minimum

The point

A (0, 0): saddle point

Answer

A (0, 0)
11.Sequences & series

Answer: S = 3

Convergence: if the terms do not tend to 0 the series diverges (n-th term test). Σ1/kᵖ converges only for p > 1, and Σrᵏ only for |r| < 1. Compare a series with one of these when its terms behave like them for large k. Ratio test: L = lim |ak+1/ak|; root test: L = lim |ak|1/k. L < 1 converges, L > 1 diverges, L = 1 decides nothing. A power series Σck(x − x₀)ᵏ converges for |x − x₀| < R with R = lim |ck/ck+1|; an alternating series with terms decreasing to 0 converges.

Partial fractions

3/(k(k + 1)) = 3·(1/k − 1/(k + 1))

Cancel

S = 3·1 = 3

Answer

S = 3
12.Sequences & series

Answer: S = 7.389

Taylor polynomials: near x = a a smooth function is approximated by Pₙ(x) = f(a) + f′(a)(x − a) + f″(a)(x − a)²/2! + … + f⁽ⁿ⁾(a)(x − a)ⁿ/n!; for a = 0 this is the Maclaurin polynomial. Standard series: eˣ = Σxᵏ/k!, sin x = x − x³/3! + x⁵/5! − …, cos x = 1 − x²/2! + x⁴/4! − …, ln(1 + x) = x − x²/2 + x³/3 − …, 1/(1 − x) = Σxᵏ. Lagrange error bound: |f(x) − Pₙ(x)| ≤ M·|x − a|ⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1)!, where M is the largest value of |f⁽ⁿ⁺¹⁾| between a and x.

Standard series

Σ xᵏ/k! = eˣ

Substitute

x = 2
S = e2 = 7.389

Answer

S = 7.389
13.Laplace transforms

Answer: f(0.5) = 0.8566

Laplace transform: F(s) = ∫₀∞ f(t)·e−st dt turns derivatives into multiplications by s: ℒ{f′} = sF(s) − f(0), ℒ{f″} = s²F(s) − s·f(0) − f′(0). Standard pairs: 1 ↔ 1/s, e−at ↔ 1/(s + a), t·e−at ↔ 1/(s + a)², sin ωt ↔ ω/(s² + ω²), cos ωt ↔ s/(s² + ω²), and a shift s → s + σ multiplies the time function by e−σt. To invert a rational F(s), split it into partial fractions: the residue of a simple pole p is A = [(s − p)·F(s)] at s = p. Final value theorem: f(∞) = lims→0 s·F(s), valid only when all poles of s·F(s) lie in the left half-plane. Initial value theorem: f(0⁺) = lims→∞ s·F(s).

Partial fractions

F(s) = A/s + B/(s + 2) + C/(s + 3)
A = 15/(2·3) = 2.5
B = 15/((−2)·1) = −7.5
C = 15/((−3)·(−1)) = 5

Inverse transform

f(t) = 2.5 − 7.5·e−2t + 5·e−3t

Evaluate

f(0.5) = 2.5 − 7.5·e−2·0.5 + 5·e−3·0.5 = 0.8566

Answer

f(0.5) = 0.8566
14.Laplace transforms

Answer: y(0.3) = 1.591

Laplace transform: F(s) = ∫₀∞ f(t)·e−st dt turns derivatives into multiplications by s: ℒ{f′} = sF(s) − f(0), ℒ{f″} = s²F(s) − s·f(0) − f′(0). Standard pairs: 1 ↔ 1/s, e−at ↔ 1/(s + a), t·e−at ↔ 1/(s + a)², sin ωt ↔ ω/(s² + ω²), cos ωt ↔ s/(s² + ω²), and a shift s → s + σ multiplies the time function by e−σt. To invert a rational F(s), split it into partial fractions: the residue of a simple pole p is A = [(s − p)·F(s)] at s = p. Final value theorem: f(∞) = lims→0 s·F(s), valid only when all poles of s·F(s) lie in the left half-plane. Initial value theorem: f(0⁺) = lims→∞ s·F(s).

Transform the equation

Y(s) = 75/(s(s + 3)(s + 5))

Partial fractions

A = 75/(3·5) = 5
B = 75/((−3)·2) = −12.5
C = 75/((−5)·(−2)) = 7.5

Output

y(t) = 5 − 12.5·e−3t + 7.5·e−5t
y(0.3) = 1.591

Answer

y(0.3) = 1.591
15.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: y(3) = 27

Continuous convolution: y(t) = ∫ x(τ)·h(t − τ) dτ. Flip h, slide it to position t and integrate the product of the overlapping parts. For causal signals the integral runs from 0 to t. Useful results: the area of y is the area of x times the area of h; if x lasts from t₁ to t₂ and h from t₃ to t₄, y lasts from t₁ + t₃ to t₂ + t₄. For h(t) = e−atu(t) and a step of height A, y(t) = (A/a)(1 − e−at).

Overlap of the flipped pulse

h(t − τ) is the pulse of h flipped and shifted so that it ends at τ = t.

τ ∈ [0, 3] → length 3 s

Integral

y(3) = 3·3·3 = 27

Answer

y(3) = 27

y(t) is a trapezoid: it rises from 0, stays at 27 and falls back to 0 at t = 7 s.

16.Convolution & LTI systems

Answer: c3 = 0.2623

Impulse response and Fourier series: the impulse response h(t) describes an LTI system completely: for y′ + a·y = b·x it is h(t) = b·e−atu(t), and for y[n] = a·y[n − 1] + b·x[n] it is h[n] = b·aⁿu[n]. A sinusoid cos ωt passes through with gain |H(jω)| and phase ∠H(jω), where H is the Fourier transform of h. A periodic signal is a sum of harmonics at k/T: a square wave of ±A has only odd harmonics with amplitudes 4A/(kπ), a triangle wave of peak A has 8A/(π²k²), and a pulse train of height A and duty cycle D has the mean A·D and the harmonics (2A/(kπ))·|sin(kπD)|.

Duty cycle

D = 1.2/4 = 0.3

Harmonic amplitude

c3 = (2·4/(3π))·|sin(3π·0.3)| = 0.2623

Answer

c3 = 0.2623

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